JimboNo9

Thanks again for all of your prompt responses. @Teacher4PHD: Thanks for the advice about long-suffering Americanists- my interests have been trending more towards the medieval period for a while, so that actually works. In addition, from the programs I've looked at French and Latin are languages I could use for medieval history, especially in my fields of interest. Good point on the letters, although I'd like to think so, I'm probably not that different than the kid with the 4.0 in History. I went to England for a summer with one, I'll probably use him. As for commitment, I'm more serious than I let on. I thought about a few part time programs that are local, but frankly, with my current job that's impossible as I work 60-80 hours a week. @Goldielocks: I've read those articles- and you're quite right, which is why I have no intention of giving up my law license. I'm ok with competition, though I'm sure they all are too. Law school was very similar. I'd like to research, write, and possibly teach. My favorite part of undergraduate school was writing history papers, particularly when I could get my hands on primary sources. Even as a lawyer, while going to court is any litigator's favorite thing, for me research is a close second. It's just the subject matter I don't care for. I don't think of history as a fallback plan- I think of my law degree as a fallback plan. @ticklemepink: The money is a concern, but not a huge one. I never had money before, and I don't expect to miss it very much. In my experience, money just gives you options to upgrade the things you have, and those upgrades don't really buy you much than other people's opinion. For instance, my BMW convertible is, for what I usually use it for, not functionally superior than the 1997 Grand Am I drove before I bought it. Besides, they're both red. The way people respond when you drive up in each is very, very different however. I'm working at the languages again I'm rusty, but it's coming back. Especially the Latin. @Sigaba: Thanks for the practical advice. I'm actually just finishing up about a three month leave of absence. I took it for personal reasons, but it has afforded me the opportunity to reflect on my priorities, and it seems very clear to me that the law is not one of them. As I said, I'd like to keep my license as even if the history thing works out, I do sometimes enjoy pro bono cases. I thought about pursuing more public interest law job in the future, but I don't really have more passion for that, it's just relatively more enjoyable than saving companies from themselves. One of my favorite past times in college was to read old dissertations, just because they were always so unique. And I still subscribe to academic history journals for pleasure reading. I do think it would help me to narrow in more specific interests however.

Thanks for the good advice. Didn't write a history thesis in undergrad, I was in the honors college but my thesis was primarily concerned with my other major. The history major was a last-minute addition once I realized I could either graduate a year early or get a second major and graduate a semester early, always liked history more, just went Poli Sci initially because I thought it'd be better for pre-law (which is actually completely wrong). Longest history research paper was probably about 25 pages or so. I have written/co-authored a few law review articles, but those would be just cruel to force anyone to read. I could probably find at least one of my old history professors to write a letter, several of them did for my law school applications back in the day, but I'm a very different person and student than I was when I was 21-22. Did that worry you at all? Also, can you read your LORs? Can't with law school apps. The money thing is a concern, I have some savings, but I would definitely foresee some downgrading. To hedge my bets and soften the blow, I was planning on continuing to practice law on at least a part time basis wherever I end up (and therefore hoping I can find a school in a state with reciprocity to avoid taking the bar again), and if I can't get a PHD job, I can always still be an unhappy lawyer, although jumping off of my career track at this point would be detrimental in terms of my future earning potential, probably to the order of about 60-70k a year less than I would otherwise make. Anyone's thoughts on working part time while pursuing a PHD? I worked in law school even though the ABA says you're not supposed to and that turned out fine. As a solo litigator, I'd be setting my own hours except for court dates. My area of specialization would probably be either Late Medieval History (France and England) or early 19th Century American History/Politics. Not consistent, I know, but those were always what I enjoyed much. If I thought the law degree would help significantly, I'd probably focus on American. Any known advantages to either? In terms of languages I can mostly read (not speak) French which i took in college and have a fading command of Latin, both of which I suspect I'd need to improve drastically for a PHD.

So I went to law school and did really well, second in my class, law review, set the curve in a bunch of classes, big law job, six figure salary etc. Scholarship in law school, so virtually no student loan debt. The only problem is that I kind of hate being a lawyer. I'm good at it and continue to do well, I just hate it. Pretty much all the time. Recently some changes in my life and the death of a few loved ones have made me reconsider my career options. Despite going to law school, my passion has always been history. I was a History/Political Science Double Major in undergrad (4.0 History GPA, 3.53 overall) and have been more or less obsessed with history since the third grade. I went to law school for the money, and frankly if I hadn't done so well I probably would have dropped out because I hated it. No one tells you to drop out when you're first in your class though (dropped to second my last semester- one bad test...not that I'm bitter). I guess my question is if I go off and do the History PHD thing, will my previous career/education hurt me, help me, or will no one care? Also, as I've been out of school for three years, will dated law school professor references do the trick? Not sure many of my history professors would still remember my name six years out. Finally, is this a really bad idea in general? It's cool if you think so.